One of DC’s most essential stories for theBatmancharacter,Hush, is finally getting a sequel 22 years after the original. The landmark storyline kicked off its run in DC’s mainBatman. comic, and in no time, readers found themselves gripped to the mystery from issue to issue. When all was said and done, it was clear that fans had witnessed a modern classic, and one ofBatman’s best comic book arcsof all time.
DC Comics held a “Jim Lee & Friends” panel at New York Comic-Con this past weekend, where a sequel toBatman: Hushwas announced. The announcement also comes with Lee’s artwork forBatman: Hush 2(or, more specifically,Batman#158 by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, currently slated to release in March 2025), seen below. There will also be a four-pageHush 2prelude inJustice League Unlimited#1.
Seemingly confirming that Chip Zdarsky’sBatmanrun as head writer ends withBatman#157,Batman#158 will bring the writer-artist duo behind the originalHushback to the franchise.
What A Hush Sequel Means For Batman Fans
The Impact of The Original Justifies a Sequel
Batman: Hushoriginally ran from October 2002 to September 2003 betweenBatman#608-618. The story centers around Batman being targeted by a mysterious, bandaged enemy who seems to know everything about The Dark Knight. It’s eventually revealed to be Bruce Wayne’s childhood friend, Dr. Thomas Elliott. The storyline as a whole has been critically acclaimed and has proven to affect current Batman storylines in notable ways. Most importantly, long before news of a sequel hit the press,DC has already revisited Hush in one way or another over time.
For instance, a brief tease that the then-dead Jason Todd could be Hush under the mask ended up inspiring the former Robin resurfacing in the canon shortly after as the Red Hood. The tease ends up being one ofRed Hood’s most definitive momentsbefore he legitimately comes back from the dead. More recently, afemale version of Hush named Shushdebuted to torment Bruce and Damian Wayne. Meanwhile, the originalHush recently returned to DC canonin Catwoman’s ongoing series.
Our Take on A Batman: Hush Sequel
Revisiting Hush in a New Way
Both readers and creators can’t stop talking about Hush to this day, more than two decades after theBatmanstoryline first hit shelves.Revisiting the original story for an actual sequel allows creative teams to explore Hush - the character and story - in new ways beyond just paying homage or taking inspiration, as DC Comics have done recently. Now, DC has an opportunity to exploreHushin a way that recontextualizes the originalBatmanstoryline, extending its legacy in the process.
Batman: Hush 2is expected to arrive in March 2025 from DC Comics
